warm winter

Yuan Yuan remembered that when Jiang Zhilan came to Haicheng to see Ye Qing last time, she was completely left out in the cold. Since then, Ye Qing has drifted away from her.Although she shouldn't be angry with her, Yuan Yuan still felt that Jiang Zhilan probably didn't get along with her.

Seeing Yuan Yuan remained silent, Ye Qing thought she was embarrassed, after all she and Jiang Zhilan had only met a few times.

"Applying to a university is a very important matter, and any useful resources should not be missed. If you are afraid of being in debt to Zhilan, then I will tell her."

The implication is that this favor is on her head, and Ye Qing will pay it back in the future, so Yuan Yuan doesn't have to have any burden.

Yuan Yuan had an idea, and said with a smile: "It would be great to have Zhilan's help. I'm really a little embarrassed. But I don't want you to worry about my affairs after work every day, or else Give me Zhilan's contact information."

Ye Qing was taken aback, she didn't expect Yuan Yuan to make such a request.

Fearing that Ye Qing would misunderstand, Yuan Yuan softened his brows and squinted his eyes to explain: "If I have any information I want to know, I can ask Zhilan directly, this way I don't have to work hard for you to pass the word in the middle, how tiring."

Yuan Yuan heard from Zhuang Yi that Ye Qing seemed to have encountered a creative bottleneck during this period, and always worked overtime until late at night.A few times when he came to work, he fell asleep lying on the workbench when he saw Ye Qing.

Yuan Yuan was worried enough just listening to it, and wished he could be by her side to relieve her worries.

Ye Qing was not moved by Yuan Yuan's thoughtfulness, but felt a little bit of inexplicable loss in his heart.

In her ears, Yuan Yuan's explanation just now meant to avoid her.After a moment of dejection, Ye Qing came to his senses, laughing secretly that he was too sensitive.It was a normal thing, but how could it be interpreted like this by myself.

She raised her eyes and met Yuan Yuan's big eyes, as if she had been waiting for her to nod.

"I'll go back tonight and talk to Zhilan first, and then ask her to contact you, okay?"

Yuan Yuan naturally smiled and agreed, and then put the materials back into the schoolbag neatly.

Seeing that the task was successfully completed and the time had passed 04:30, Zhuang Yi proposed to have dinner together.

"Why don't we finish work early today and let's celebrate Yuan Yuan?"

This is the part that was not agreed beforehand, Yuan Yuan was taken aback, and asked blankly: "What are you celebrating me for?"

Zhuang Yi hissed and made a toothache expression, wishing he could step forward and give Yuan Yuan a head.

"Shouldn't future prospective college students, and students from prestigious schools, celebrate well?"

Zhuang Yi's reason was far-fetched and vain, even Yuan Yuan felt embarrassed.But she doesn't want to miss the opportunity to have dinner with Ye Qing, even if there is an extra Zhuang Yi, it doesn't matter.

If she asked Ye Qing alone, there was a high probability that she would be rejected.If Zhuang Yi had organized it, maybe Ye Qing would have gone.

Yuan Yuan silently swallowed the words of defense, acquiescing to Zhuang Yi's statement, and at the same time quietly waiting for Ye Qing's reply.

While they were talking, Ye Qing had already turned off the computer, and the design drafts on the desktop were also put into folders.It seemed that he was getting ready to leave work, Yuan Yuan smiled all over his face.

Unexpectedly, Ye Qing picked up the handbag, took the small suit jacket, and said calmly: "I have something tonight, you go."

The smile on Yuan Yuan's face disappeared instantly, replaced by loss.

Ye Qing looked at Yuan Yuan apologetically, and wanted to reach out and rub her hair, even though the height difference between them is not as easy as it used to be.

"It was settled a long time ago, and I can't miss the appointment temporarily."

Ye Qing rarely explained very seriously, and kept looking at Yuan Yuan.

"It's okay, just make an appointment next time." Yuan Yuan pursed his lips, then let go after a while, and then gave Ye Qing a relieved smile.

If Ye Qing had a mirror in his hand, Yuan Yuan would probably be able to see how stiff the corners of his mouth were, and there was no real smile at the corners of his eyes.

Zhuang Yi looked at it from the side and really felt a toothache, so he hurriedly dragged Yuan Yuan away.

Most of the restaurants near Xin'ai Road are petty-bourgeois-style, and those who are more famous need to book in advance.Guests like Zhuang Yi who are informal and eat a lot are not suitable for this kind of place.

"Where are you taking me?" Yuan Yuan was not interested in this completely unexpected dinner.

On the other hand, Zhuang Yi was rarely interested. Instead of being left in dismay by Yuan Yuan, he led her to the destination all the time.

The driver dutifully took them to the vicinity of Xinyan Square. After getting off the car, Yuan Yuan was almost dragged and pushed forward by Zhuang Yi.

"I helped you so much today, and now I treat you to dinner, is this how you treat me?" Zhuang Yi was not angry, and even found it funny.

Yuan Yuan knew that her current behavior was not considered decent, but she didn't want to wear a mask and treat Zhuang Yi with the standard that the Yuan family usually required.Although she didn't have much contact with Zhuang Yi, she subconsciously classified him and Ye Qing into the same category.

They are all artists, they are all real and pure, and they are not fond of hypocrisy.And when I am with them, I am relaxed, brisk and joyful.

Even though Ye Qing's attitude changed, Yuan Yuan couldn't deny that every time he went to the studio, his heart could always dance.

"But I..." Yuan Yuan stammered, unable to explain why.

In fact, after Ye Qing said he couldn't go, Yuan Yuan's mood declined.But he didn't want to spoil the fun, so he had to come with Zhuang Yi.

Zhuang Yi didn't bother to argue with her, after all, he was still a child, and a girl at that.If he was really angry with Yuan Yuan, Zhuang Yi would probably look down on him.

It was so lively that the lobby was already full.

Yuan Yuan was very surprised, it's just time for dinner, where did the people at this table come from?

Zhuang Yi went in and said hello to the proprietress, and then went to the shed outside to find a fairly clean small square table and sat down.

"My God, it's too lively here!"

"The food in this store tastes first-class. I loved coming here before I went to Xitang. I didn't expect to find that their business was even better when I came back."

This is a barbecue restaurant.In the hot summer, the evening breeze brings a little coolness, and it is very pleasant to drink skewers with beer.

Zhuang Yi ordered a dozen beers and ordered a pinch of fruit juice for Yuan Yuan.

"Don't say I'm bullying you, I'll pick out delicious skewers for you, but you can't touch wine."

Yuan Yuan was brought here by himself, even if there are bodyguards around, Zhuang Yi still regards it as his responsibility to take good care of Yuan Yuan.As he spoke, he moved all the beer bottles to his side.

Yuan Yuan pouted and poured juice into his glass: "What are you afraid of, I won't snatch your wine."

Probably because of regular customers, not long after they sat down, the proprietress personally delivered two plates of skewers, which were fragrant.

"It smells so good!" Yuan Yuan realized that he was hungry after seeing the delicious food. Yuan Yuan was not hypocritical, and picked up the mutton skewers in front of him and ate them bit by bit.

Zhuang Yi ate several skewers in a row, and drank half a glass of beer leisurely, before speaking lightly.

"I'm not afraid that you will snatch my wine, I'm worried that you will be too sad and use alcohol to relieve your sorrow."

"What should I be sad about?" Yuan Yuan just bit off a piece of dough and quickly swallowed it into his mouth, his cheeks bulging like a little hamster.

It looks so cute, especially those bright eyes, destined to attract the artist's attention.

Fortunately, it was not the first time we met, otherwise Zhuang Yi wouldn't have the mind to solve other troubles for Yuan Yuan.

"Isn't Ye Qing the knot in your heart?" It was another sentence that floated out of Zhuang Yi's mouth, but it was extremely lethal.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Yuan Yuan choked on the cumin powder, and coughed violently, his face flushed.

Zhuang Yi calmly pushed the cup in front of her: "Drink some juice to moisturize yourself."

Gudong Gudong drank upside down, finally relieved.

But Yuan Yuan didn't dare to look at Zhuang Yi, and pretended to add juice to himself, keeping his eyes on the glass.

"Since you asked me to help you, you can't keep hiding it from me, can you?"

Zhuang Yi picked up another grilled sausage, took a bite, and looked at Yuan Yuan meaningfully.

Yuan Yuan bit the rim of the glass, but didn't really drink the juice.The eyeballs flicked around, as if thinking about how to answer.

"As for me, I'm not a person who likes to inquire about gossip. Let me ask you a question, what is your attitude towards Ye Qing?"

What attitude?

Yuan Yuan was a little dazed, she put down her glass and began to think seriously.

It's not to perfunctory Zhuang Yi, but to give an answer as close to reality as possible.

"It's just that I have a good impression. But I know, it shouldn't be." Intermittent, thin and weak, it was the first time Yuan Yuan seemed so unconfident in front of Zhuang Yi.

Zhuang Yi was not surprised at all, but nodded and continued to eat the sausage in his hand.

"Well, it's about the same as I guessed. You like her, right?"

Yuan Yuan's face burned instantly, the secret hidden in the deepest part of her heart was suddenly said in such an understatement tone, she didn't know how to dodge.

"You don't need to find a reason to lie to me. Every time you come to the studio, if I still can't see those performances, I'm blind." Zhuang Yi poked his hands in the direction of the eyes.

Yuan Yuan froze there, and nodded subtly after a long time.

That range, probably only she can see.

Zhuang Yi didn't seem to care about her answer, because Yuan Yuan's performance was too obvious.

"Am I really... acting...obvious?" Yuan Yuan felt anxious when he heard what Zhuang Yi said.

She thought she had covered it up well, and was always cautious every time she faced Ye Qing.How could even Zhuang Yi see it? Didn't Ye Qing already know it? !

"Every child's family can hide their thoughts."

"Hmph, who said I was a child?"

Being underestimated by Zhuang Yi, Yuan Yuan certainly did not accept it.

"You know what kind of liking I'm talking about, right? Since you said you're not a child anymore, then your liking is definitely not what a child likes a stepmother, right?"

As soon as I heard the word "stepmother", I was upset, and all the cells in my body were repelling.

From the beginning until now, Yuan Yuan was very disgusted with the fact that Ye Qing wanted to be his stepmother.Even if the reasons for objection have changed, the facts have not.

"Do you think I'm a weirdo?" Yuan Yuan asked tentatively, she wanted to know how Zhuang Yi, who was of the same kind as Ye Qing, viewed her feelings.

Zhuang Yi poured himself another glass of beer and drank it slowly.

Yuan Yuan looked anxious, the blush on his face hadn't completely subsided yet.He opened his mouth but made no sound, his face was full of anxiety.

"Look at you. You're just so impatient. I'm not qualified to comment on whether you're a weirdo. I just want to know if you've thought it through?"

Yuan Yuan nodded abruptly without hesitation.

"Do you really want to understand, or do you decide to continue to like her?" Zhuang Yi narrowed his eyes, and his eyes gradually became sharper.

Yuan Yuan was slightly taken aback, but still nodded firmly.

Her liking is not a temporary idea, but has already taken root in her heart, and has been quietly conceived for a long time.

Zhuang Yi stared at her for a long time, but his eyes were different from before.It is a kind of solemnity that has never been seen before.For the first time, Yuan Yuan felt that Zhuang Yi was looking at himself like an adult.

"You're still too young, and your last name is Yuan. Many things can't be solved just by liking. I hope you can think carefully about it."

Yuan Yuan's heart sank. She originally thought that if Zhuang Yi asked her like that, most likely he would support her in disguise like Xu Bufan did.

Although Xu Bufan also reminded her about the barriers of identity, she doesn't discriminate against liking itself, let alone oppose it.But Zhuang Yi's tone seemed to disagree.

"It's not been a day or two since I liked her. Since you said you can tell, then you must also know that I have liked her for a long time." Yuan Yuan simply put it bluntly. Anyway, every time she went to the studio, Zhuang Yida Also part of the time.

Seeing Yuan Yuan's serious appearance, Zhuang Yi chuckled lightly.Smiling and smiling, there was a touch of bitterness at the corner of his mouth.

"Don't be in a hurry with me. I'm not trying to stop you. I'm just suggesting you as someone who has experienced it. Act carefully and don't leave regrets in vain."

Yuan Yuan blinked at Zhuang Yi, it was the first time that the person in front of her showed such a depressed and deep look in front of her.

The Zhuang Yi in her impression is arrogant, unruly, unrestrained and unrestrained by love.

"Have you had similar... experiences?" Yuan Yuan asked tentatively.

If she didn't misunderstand what she just said, did Zhuang Yi, like herself, like someone with a special status?

Zhuang Yi drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, and frowned.

He fell into the memory, and distant memories emerged bit by bit: "At that time, I was just in high school. I didn't do my homework well in class every day, and mingled with messy people outside the school all day long. My school uniform was often colorful and messy with paint. , jeans can not be washed for a month."

Yuan Yuan couldn't imagine that Zhuang Yi was like this at that time, but she listened carefully with great interest, looking forward to the story.

"The principal is my father's good friend, so it's not good to really punish me. I actually know that it's all small troubles, and mistakes in principle will be perfectly avoided, so the teachers can't do anything about me."

Yuan Yuan was puzzled, since Zhuang Yi knew what he was doing, why did he do it?

Seeing the doubt in Yuan Yuan's eyes, Zhuang Yi said frankly: "It's just to fight against my father. He wants me to be an obedient and good student, but I won't."

Yuan Yuan nodded secretly, it turns out that the real disobedience is like this.

Zhuang Yi went on to say: "At that time, my energy was limitless, my heart was full of excitement, and there was nowhere to vent my emotions. I always felt that my soul had no place to rest, so I had to toss about desperately, jumping up and down, wishing I could make a hole in place. Until I met her, I was a sophomore in high school. Art teacher at that time."

It turned out to be a teacher.It is not uncommon for students to fall in love with their teachers.Yuan Yuan didn't feel that Zhuang Yi was different, on the contrary, he felt more intimacy in his heart.At least she won't feel that the fiancée she likes her father is an outlier. Zhuang Yi was once as bold as her.

"She attracts me and makes me obsessed. As long as I am with her, I can stay in the studio quietly all day. And my heart is so peaceful, it seems that my soul has been relied on. Later I found that I have I developed feelings for her in the day-to-day relationship."

Zhuang Yi's complexion gradually changed, and Yuan Yuan's heart became tense.

"And then, did you guys get together?"

Zhuang Yi nodded, then shook his head slightly.

"Together? Then separated again?" Yuan Yuan's heart tightened, and the ending didn't seem to be perfect.

"I was underage at that time. Although I thought I was much more mature than other classmates, in the eyes of everyone, I was still not qualified to talk about relationships, especially with my teacher."

Zhuang Yi's tone dropped significantly, it was clearly a long memory, as if it was right in front of him.

Yuan Yuan frowned, looking at Zhuang Yi's appearance, she roughly guessed that this relationship should have no good results.

"The purpose of my telling you this is to tell you that you are also underage now, so you must think carefully before you express your feelings. If you only consider your own feelings and act impulsively, you will not only bring yourself trouble, It will also cause trouble for the other party.”

Yuan Yuan understood, Zhuang Yi was warning her, don't just think about what you like in your heart, and ignore your real identity.

"Don't worry about this, I already knew it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have endured until now, it's so uncomfortable." Yuan Yuan wrinkled his nose and made a painful and aggrieved expression.

Zhuang Yi adjusted his mood and looked at her with a faint smile.

"I know you've been holding it back, but you're about to lose it, that's why I'm reminding you today. Otherwise, I'd be too lazy to meddle in other people's affairs. Relationships are always troublesome, and I don't know which muscle is wrong. , to intervene in this matter."

Yuan Yuan took the initiative to pour wine for him, then added some juice for himself, held the glass with both hands, and respected him earnestly.

"I know you care about me, for my own good, and for Ye Qing's."

Zhuang Yi sized her up a few times, then slowly raised his cup to touch hers lightly.

"In short, before you become an adult, you must take care of yourself. Otherwise, you and Ye Qing will have more troubles in the future, and that's all I can help."

Yuan Yuan smiled confidently: "I have been seriously calculating, and I will definitely not say it until I arrive."

Zhuang Yi sneered: "Why, you plan to talk about it when we arrive?"

Uh... I don't have a clear idea, but at least I can calm down.

But being asked by Zhuang Yi, Yuan Yuan had a new idea.

On my birthday, can I confess my love to Ye Qing?

She is an adult, she is qualified to talk about feelings.She wanted to dedicate the purest and most precious first confession in her life to Ye Qing.

**

It was already ten o'clock at night when Ye Qing got home, she turned on the light in the living room, and casually put her bag and coat on the shoe cabinet by the door.There was still a faint smell of alcohol on his body, and his brows and eyes were full of exhaustion.

Tonight's salon was qualified for participation because she asked Yuan Honghao to make a match a long time ago, so she couldn't miss it no matter what.She didn't expect Yuan Yuan to come to the studio suddenly this afternoon, and she didn't expect that the child would soon be applying for university.

As if it was yesterday that Yuan Yuan asked him to help persuade Yuan Honghao to let her stay in Haicheng to study in high school, but today Yuan Yuan asked him to help her choose a university.Two years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Ye Qing himself can't believe how time flies so fast.

Although she was very tired, she still took out her phone and sent a message to Jiang Zhilan.

It's morning in the United States, Jiang Zhilan should be busy.Ye Qing roughly summed up Yuan Yuan's application for schools and majors, and regarded it as a message.

Unexpectedly, there was an immediate response, and it was still a video call.

Ye Qing didn't expect that Jiang Zhilan would be free at this time, she didn't even take off her make-up, she just arrived home.

But she still clicked on the video and calmly welcomed her friend's scrutiny.

"Ye Qing, you just got home so late?"

"Well, there is a professional salon tonight."

Jiang Zhilan looked at her with a half-smile, and paused for a while before speaking: "I read the message you sent me, Yuan Yuan wants to apply to come to B University, did you choose for her?"

Ye Qing avoids the important and ignores the important: "I just gave advice on her alternative colleges. As for the final choice, it is her own decision."

"Well, then why are you so caring? You asked me to take the time to introduce the situation to Yuan Yuan in detail. I'm very busy. And I'm not from the business school. I have to find someone to inquire about her."

Having said that, Jiang Zhilan's tone did not imply rejection.Years of tacit understanding made Ye Qing not worried, she was just afraid that Jiang Zhilan would frighten her by teasing Yuan Yuan like this.

"Choosing a school is a very serious matter. Don't talk to Yuan Yuan in this tone, otherwise she will be easily misled by you."

Jiang Zhilan restrained herself a little, but there was always a faint smile on the corner of her mouth.

"You know her well."

Ye Qing didn't bother to pay attention to the face of her friend who suddenly approached on the other end of the video.

"You care about her."

Ye Qing staggered her eyes, Jiang Zhilan seemed to be able to see through herself easily through the screen.This feeling is not very good, Ye Qing is a little annoyed.

Jiang Zhilan saw that Ye Qing was deliberately avoiding this topic, so she stopped joking.When he came to Haicheng last time, he had discussed Yuan Yuan with Ye Qing very seriously.So she won't emphasize and remind again and again, she believes that Ye Qing has a sense of proportion.

So she changed the subject: "How is your relationship recently?"

"It's almost the same as before. I didn't know about it until she came to the studio this afternoon to ask Zhuang Yi for reference."

Jiang Zhilan and Ye Qing have always been in contact, so she knows about Ye Qing's estrangement from Yuan Yuan.

"Zhuang Yi is famous for not studying hard and graduating with his cleverness. How can he really believe his advice? I think it's because the drunkard doesn't care about drinking."

Jiang Zhilan's words tonight were so eloquent that Ye Qing couldn't bear to listen to them.

"Since you agreed to help Yuan Yuan, you should contact her when you have time. I'm very tired and I'm going to take a bath and rest."

After hastily hanging up the video, Ye Qing casually took a shower.

She stood under the shower, thinking about Jiang Zhilan's words in a daze.

The drunkard's intention is not to drink, and Yuan Yuan came to the studio in the afternoon, probably to find her.

And the so-called school choice problem is just an excuse.

It's not that Ye Qing hasn't thought about these things, but she subconsciously doesn't want to think about them.Even more unwilling to take the initiative to verify, once verified, it means that she will use a stronger method to change the relationship between her and Yuan Yuan.

They are now distant enough that they are not even a stable WeChat friend.Her creation also stagnated for a long time, so she had to work harder in business to maintain the normal development of the studio.

Ye Qing hesitated, but she still held back.She can't let her selfishness play a role and blindly seek inspiration from Yuan Yuan.What she got from Yuan Yuan was benefits, but Yuan Yuan couldn't get what she wanted from her.

The emotion in Yuan Yuan's eyes shocked Ye Qing and made her even more uneasy.

I thought that if we were estranged, the relationship would gradually fade away.Yuan Yuan was probably just infatuated with her for a while.But this afternoon, Ye Qing knew that he was wrong.

Neither time nor distance allowed Yuan Yuan to dilute this emotion, but instead deepened it.Yuan Yuan secretly looked at her several times, but Ye Qing didn't know about it.But she can only pretend that she doesn't know, once she meets, she doesn't know how to respond.

But even if you don't look at Yuan Yuan, those bright eyes, like the bright moon and starry sky, have already been branded deep in Ye Qing's memory.